Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/404

 398 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Chickamauga.

BY MAJOR W. W. CARNES.

Editors Constitution, — Your special correspondent's account of the battle of Chickamauga, written from the scene of that conflict, under date of March 15th, 1883, is very interesting reading, but, while written in a spirit of lairness, it is evidently not the production of one who regards the subject from a Southern point of view.

Want of accuracy on some points of little historic importance is to be expected in any account by one person, though an actor therein, of a two days' battle, but there are grosser inaccuracies in the well- written narrative of your correspondent which should not go uncor- rected — notably, his statements as to the numbers engaged.

An editorial paragraph in your Sunday issue, calling attention to the account of the battle of Chickamauga therein published, says it is desirable, for the truth of history, to have the statements of the actors in such scenes while yet living.

Acting upon the implied invitation contained in said paragraph, I venture to present to you some recollections of the battle of Chicka- mauga, in which I will include certain comments on the account given by your correspondent.

I cannot hope to make my contribution as readable as that of Mr. Burr, but I shall endeavor to be accurate. I was an actor through- out this bloody battle, being, then, a captain of artillery in Cheat- ham's division; and while I do not claim to possess any accurate knowledge of what occurred beyond my immediate view, it happened that I was so situated as to see about as much of the operations on the field as any one man. Where I write of matters beyond my own knowledge, I shall be guided by the official reports.

Your correspondent is mistaken in saying that most of Bragg' s army had crossed the Chickamauga during the night of September i8th, and was moving into position shortly after daylight on the 19th. As far as the writer can learn, only the cavalry and two divisions of infantry had crossed. Other portions of the army crossed at different points after sunrise on the 19th, and still other considerable bodies of our troops were not brought over till late in the day, and did not apjjear on the field of battle at all.

Cheatham's division crossed at Hunt's ford long after sunrise on the 19th, and was not moved to the front till several hours later. My